ARTSEDGE: The Kennedy Center's Arts Education Network: Multimedia Library

ARTSEDGE

The Kennedy Center opens its doors to thousands of children each year – and hundreds of thousands more step in through ARTSEDGE, our K-12 arts education network.

Abraham Lincoln and Music

Abraham Lincoln was one of America's most unmusical presidents: he could neither play an instrument nor carry a tune.

Alan Stanford: The Power of Theater

Alan Stanford & the Cast of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot talk about experiencing the magic of theater by coming to the theater with an “open heart.”

Andes Manta

Andes Manta performs the vibrant music of the Andes on more than 35 traditional instruments. From the lyrical sound of the quena, or Andean Flute, to the haunting tones of the six-foot long pan-pipes, the music of Andes Manta is an experience that never fails to bring audiences to their feet.

Arabesque: Music of the Arab World

A 3-part audio series that explores different aspects of Arab music: the musical instruments of the Arab World; what makes Arab music unique; and the styles of music in the Arab World.

Art in Camelot: The Arts in the Kennedy Years

Through his words and examples, President Kennedy raised awareness of the importance of the arts in America.

Art/Space

How do composers hear space? What does space sound like? Is there music in space? Narrated by Roger Launius of the Space History Division of the National Air and Space Museum, this series looks at the way music and outer space connect.

Artfully Speaking

An audio series pulled from lectures, workshops and other events for educators presented by and through the Education Department of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

August Wilson: The Power of Theater

August Wilson's work accurately portrays the black experience in America-addressing themes of struggle (violence, economic injustices, unemployment, poverty and neglect, racism, civil rights, unlawful imprisonment, the legacy of slavery) as well as themes of triumph (the strength of family ties and loyalties, the uniqueness of black culture and the fight to preserve and value it).

Azor: Vodou Jazz

Azor is known throughout the world as one of the most powerful voices in traditional sacred music in Vodou. He and his group of traditional drummers travel and record extensively especially in Japan. Their repertoire ranges from traditional chants to “Vodou jazz.”

Balkan Quartet

Specializing in Gypsy music, these versatile musicians from the heart of the Balkans perform music from the region.

Beethoven Rocks!

Part 1 of the Beethoven Rocks series: Get to know Classical music's biggest star

Beethoven: Listening to Symphony No. 5

Part 2 of the Beethoven Rocks series: The Riff Heard ‘Round the World

Beethoven: Listening to Symphony No. 6

Part 3 of the Beethoven Rocks series: The Pastoral

Beethoven: Listening to Symphony No. 9

Part 4 of the Beethoven Rocks series: Ode to Joy

Beijing Traditional Music Ensemble

Beijing Traditional Music Ensemble's extensive repertoire and virtuoso musicians demonstrate the range of distinctive styles that developed in each region for erhu (fiddle), pipa (lute), and other instruments.

Ben Burtt: The Sounds of Star Wars

Ben Burtt: The Sounds of Star Wars

Meet Ben Burtt, Sound Designer for films like Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark and WALL-E. Learn how he comes up with sounds that complement the amazing things seen on the silver screen – from laser blasts to whirring, buzzing lightsabers. Find out the story behind some of his signature effects and how he first got interested in sound design.

Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead

Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead

Under the direction of Jason Moran, Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor for Jazz, the Jazz Ahead program identifies outstanding, emerging jazz artist-composers in their mid-teens to age twenty-five, and brings them together under the tutelage of experienced artist-instructors who coach and counsel them, helping to polish their performance, composing, and arranging skills.

Black Choral Music: Boys Choir of Tallahassee

In the late 19th century, Harry Burleigh-a protege of Antonin Dvorak-took the musical style to new heights with choral arrangements informed by his classical training. Modern choral music takes on many different forms, and is often accompanied by the piano, percussion, and bass.

Blues Journey

Out of the hardships of Black Americans at the turn of the 20th century came the blues, a music that helped ease their suffering.

Blues Journey: Page to Stage

Join playwright Jerome Hairson and director Scot Reese as they bring the story of Blues Journey from page to stage, developing the original book of blues lyrics into a fully realized play, rich with musical performances. Blues Journey follows the life of a blues performer as he learns to play, finds fame, and witnesses the blues evolve into rock-and-roll in this world premiere Kennedy Center original production based on the children's book by Walter Dean Myers.

Border Music: Grupo Fantasma

Along the Texas-Mexican border in the 19th century, Mexicans, Native Americans, and Anglo-Americans living in the region intermingled with European immigrants looking for new opportunities. The clash and fusion of multiple languages and traditions resulted in a distinct "Tejano" culture.

Brass Music: Tremé Brass Band

Follow behind a parade in New Orleans and you'll still be a part of the show. Whether a parade was organized for a celebration or funeral, honorees and others in the main procession would be followed by a "second line" of participants hoping to get closer to the rhythms of the brass bands.

Cajun Music: Michael Doucet

Louisiana-based Cajun music has roots in unaccompanied, narrative ballads brought by European settlers. Cajun songs, traditionally sung in French, fused narrative balladry, Irish and Anglo-American reels and jigs, and Black and Native American folk traditions.

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